Method and apparatus for distributed flow/seismic profiling and external support device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11530579-B2
Application number	US-201816955697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2018
Priority date	Jan 18, 2018
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

In the general context of oilfield equipment and, in particular, in the context of downhole tools, the systems and methods relate to characterizing flow in a wellbore using data collection devices, which may be temporarily attached on the outside of a work string to be run into the wellbore. More particularly, the systems and methods may be used for obtaining flow data at a plurality of different locations and correlated with wellbore depth for evaluation of production profiles of wellbores. A system may be provided that comprises a work string, multiple external support devices temporarily secured to an exterior of the work string at a plurality of different locations, and at least one data collection device such as a resistivity gauge, flow meter, and/or Doppler sensor, coupled to the external support devices. This data, once recovered on surface, could be incorporated into an overall production profile model of the well.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for flow measurement in a wellbore, comprising:
an external support device including a body configured for removably securing at any of a plurality of locations to an exterior of a work string for running into the wellbore;
one or more stabilizers that extend outwardly from the body;
a flow sensor coupled to the body operable to measure annular flow between the work string and the wellbore;
a memory module coupled to the external support device for storing measurements of the annular flow from the flow sensor; and
a battery module coupled to the external support device for supplying power to one or both of the flow sensor and the memory module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the external support device comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the external support device has an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the body defines the central opening in the closed configuration such that the external support device is concentrically disposed around at least a portion of the work string.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined at a hinged connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein fasteners are secured through opposing pairs of the stabilizers to secure the first portion and the second portion to one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow sensor is disposed in one of the stabilizers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the work string comprises coiled tubing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory module is disposed on a circuit board that is integrated into one of the stabilizers.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a geophone disposed in at least one of the stabilizers for obtaining distributed seismic profiles.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizers comprise fins that extend radially from the outer surface of the body.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sample chamber integrated into at least one of the stabilizers.

11. A system for flow in a wellbore, comprising:
a work string configured for running into the wellbore;
a plurality of apparatuses removably secured to an exterior of the work string at spaced apart locations, wherein each of the plurality of apparatuses has an external support device including a body, wherein the body defines a central opening through which the work string extends, and one or more stabilizers that extend outwardly from an outer surface of the body, and at least one flow sensor coupled to the body operable to measure annular flow between the work string and a larger conduit or a wellbore wall, a memory module coupled to the external support device for storing measurements of the annular flow from the at least one flow sensor, and a battery module carried by the external support device, wherein the battery module is coupled to the external support device for supplying power.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the work string comprises coiled tubing, and wherein the stabilizers comprise fins that extend radially from the outer surface of the body.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises a fiber-optic cable coupled to the work string and running along the work string, wherein the system further comprises a processor operable to correlate data from the fiber-optic cable with the measurements of the annular flow.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one flow sensor is disposed in one of the stabilizers.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory module is disposed on a circuit board that is integrated into one of the stabilizers, wherein the apparatus further comprises a geophone disposed in at least one of the stabilizers for obtaining distributed seismic profiles, wherein the stabilizers comprise fins that extend radially from the outer surface of the body.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a reel on which the work string is partially disposed;
an injector comprising a drive chain assembly arranged to grip the work string and run the work string into and out of a wellbore;
a stripper mounted on the injector to provide a hydraulic seal around the work string;
a lubricator in a form of a tube arranged to receive the work string from the stripper and contain the work string under pressure;
a blowout preventer installed at a wellhead that receives the work string from the lubricator, wherein the blowout preventer comprises blades for cutting the work string when activated and rams for sealing around the work string when activated; and
a work window installed above the blowout preventer through which the external support device is installed on the work string.

17. A method of flow measurement in a wellbore, comprising:
removably coupling an external support device to a portion of a work string, wherein the external support device carries at least one data collection device on the work string, the at least one data collection device comprising a flow sensor operable to measure annular flow between the work string and the wellbore and a memory module coupled to the external support device for storing measurements of the annular flow from the flow sensor;
running the work string into the wellbore to deploy the external support device in the wellbore at a target depth; and
obtaining annular flow data with the data collection device in the wellbore with respect to annular flow between the work string and a larger conduit or a wellbore wall, wherein the annular flow data is obtained while the external support device is held at the target depth.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the work string comprises coiled tubing, and further comprising coupling one or more additional external support devices to the coiled tubing at spaced apart locations, wherein the additional external support devices each support respective data collection devices.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the external support device further carries at least one geophone, and wherein the method further comprises taking one or more measurements with the geophone in the wellbore to obtain distributed seismic profiles.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising running a fiber-optic cable into the wellbore with the work string, obtaining data from distributed acoustic sensing and/or distributed temperature sensing with the fiber-optic cable, and combining the data with the annular flow data.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Sahdev Neha
• Bivens Eric
• Quero Philippe

Classifications

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B19/22 Primary

  Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes {(lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003)} · CPC title

• E21B17/10

  Wear protectors; Centralising devices {, e.g. stabilisers} · CPC title

• E21B17/20

  Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables} · CPC title

• E21B47/107

  using acoustic means · CPC title